AI activities at NIST and BIS would continue in event of shutdown, for different reasons

Key AI-related activities at federal agencies will continue if Congress cannot agree on a funding measure in time to avoid a general government shutdown, including those at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Center for Artificial Intelligence Standards and Innovation, according to the Commerce Department’s contingency plan.

“Minimally necessary activities to oversee and manage the excepted functions and activities of NIST as described … will continue,” reads the Commerce plan released Sept. 29.

With Congress showing no sign...